Carmelita E. Orlaske

Carmelita E. Orlaske, 84, of St. Joseph, passed away on Wednesday, November 26, at Caretel Inns of Royalton. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, November 29, 10:00AM, at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 404 E. Glenlord Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Carl Pagel officiating. Burial will follow at Hickory Bluff Cemetery. Visitation is on Friday from 4:00-7:00PM, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. Friends wishing to leave a message of condolence, or to sign the family guest book, may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Mrs. Orlaske was born January 6, 1919, in Bainbridge Township, to Walter and Florence (Earl) Griffin. She married Herman Orlaske on June 26, 1938 in South Bend, IN; he preceded her in death on April 16, 1989. She lived her childhood and most of her adult life in Sodus, moving to Stevensville in 1968. Carmelita and her husband Herman, were the former owners and operators (1953-1959) of Orlaske?s Grocery in Sodus. She was a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church. Some of her favorite things to do were painting, sewing and gardening. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Carmelita is survived by her daughter, Linda (John) Heil of St. Joseph; her son, David (Suezi) Orlaske of St. Joseph; four grandchildren, Chris (Britt) Orlaske, Shawn Orlaske, Kevin (Sandy) Greening, and Kreg (Kimberly) Greening; one great grandson, Jacob Greening; and a sister, Aletha Carmichael of Hartford. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Herman, two brothers-Wilbur and Lloyd Griffin, and a sister-Lucille Basey.